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When reaching out to artists, league representatives asked some acts if they would exchange a headlining slot for a portion of their post-Super Bowl tour earnings, or make another type of financial contribution to the NFL. Sources told the Journal that the suggestion, perhaps unsurprisingly, "got a chilly reception from the candidates' representatives."

While the NFL doesn't typically pay artists who perform during the Super Bowl Halftime Show, they do tend to cover travel and production expenses, which can be upwards of a million dollars. Considering the Halftime Show has only grown more popular in recent years — this year's performance with Bruno Mars and the Red Hot Chili Peppers drew 115.3 million viewers, compared to the 112.2 million who watched the game — it makes sense they'd want a piece of the pie.

The artists themselves do tend to capitalize on the exposure of such a performance as well: Beyoncé announced her "Mrs. Carter Show" world tour right after her performance in 2013, while tickets to Mars' "Moonshine Jungle" tour went on sale the Monday after his Super Bowl set. But quantifying Super Bowl exposure, specifically in the form of ticket sales, is tricky, especially for established artists like Rihanna, Perry and Coldplay who have been grossing millions on the road for years.

No decisions have been made about this year's Super Bowl Halftime performer, and as NFL spokeswoman Joanna Hunter noted, the league's contracts with artists are confidential. Super Bowl XLIX will take place outside of Phoenix on February 1st, 2015.